Shloka 11
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति कुलहितोपदेशः | Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Duryodhana on Dynastic Welfare
सर्वकामै: संविभक्तः पूजितश्न॒ यथासुखम् । अहं वै धार्तराष्ट्राणां कुर्या तदफलं कथम्
sarvakāmaiḥ saṃvibhaktaḥ pūjitaś ca yathāsukham | ahaṃ vai dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ kuryā tad aphalaṃ katham ||
Karna said: “The sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra have shared with me every desired enjoyment, have honored me, and have kept me in comfort. How could I allow their benefaction toward me to become fruitless?”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds kṛtajñatā (gratitude) and the moral weight of received support: Karna frames loyalty as repayment of honor and benefits, even when the larger conflict raises questions of dharma.
In Udyoga Parva, as war becomes imminent and alliances are tested, Karna explains why he will not abandon the Kauravas: they have enriched and honored him, so he feels bound not to let their favor go unrepaid.